MONSTER GARDEN PARTY

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11863, 18 February 1907, Page 4

MONSTER GARDEN PARTY

MR. AND MRS MASSEY HONORED Auckland, Peb 17 A gardea party was tendered to Mr Masaey. the Leader of the Opposition, at PuUekohe, on Saturday, by the Political Reform League, and despite the .threatening weather, there was' a large : attendance, the. , number of people being 2509, including a large contingent from Auckland. Manakau, and Waikato districts. Mr Massey, in the course of his speech, claimed that the Opposition had exerted a boneficial influ ence at c he last session, notably in regawl to the Government's Land i Bill, which he said would have been forcsd upon the country but for the determined stand made by the^Oppoi sition. He claimed such a measure should not be passed- without the , electors being consulted. The*Oppo~ . aifcion was now much stronger than . at any time during the last dozen yonrs. Speaking of the recent Legislative Council appointments, he said tbnt men were now being appointed who bad not the slightest chance of being elected ( to the lower "House, • and who would not be of the slightest use to the country. Such a . system of appointment was a blot upon Democtacy, -tond the appointI ments of somo of the men, including i the last batch, was positively an af ront to the electors, lie hoped the > electors and the Press would assist r the Reform Party in bringing about a state of things more in keeping •With domooratic principols. [ Snaechea wero also delivered by f other Auckland members, and at the i conclusion of the speeches a presentation of a handsome feather boa was i made to Mrs Massey by the members of the Ladies' Committee, as a marl | of the esteem and appreciation of hei 3 husband's services.